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The King of Wuxia film image, director Lin Jing-jie

The King of Wuxia

Da Xia Hu Jin Quan / 大俠胡金銓

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International Premiere

Lin Jing-Jie’s doc is a detailed, deeply poignant tribute to one of history’s great filmmakers. King Hu (1932-1997) was a consummate film artist—a sure hand not only at directing, but also drawing, calligraphy, acting, and other arts. Lin assembles actors, choreographers, critics, scholars, producers, fellow directors, and others who knew and loved Hu; their tributes and analyses form a mosaic-like depiction.

Part I is centred on Hu as an artist, with wide-ranging discussion of masterpieces like Dragon Inn (1967) and A Touch of Zen (1971). Cast and crew members reveal the master’s grasp of film production in its many facets, while directors such as John Woo, Tsui Hark, and Ann Hui discuss the fully realized films. Part II is more biographical, taking us through a life which took Hu from China to Hong Kong, and Taiwan to California, where his unrealized final film was to be set. Lin’s film is a beautiful tribute to a wonderful man, and a must-see for lovers of East Asian cinema.

 

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Director
Credits
Country of Origin

Taiwan

Year

2022

Language

Mandarin

Film Contact
Links
18+
220 min
Documentary

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Credits

Producer

Hsu Hui-lin, Steven Tu

Cinematography

Tan Heong-song

Editor

Lin Jing-jie, Shih Chien-yu

Original Music

Sky Lee, Weng La-fa

Director

Lin Jing-jie headshot, The King of Wuxia director

Lin Jing-jie

Lin Jing-jie’s work has been honoured at the Asia Pacific Film Festival and the Golden Horse Awards. He received the International Critics’ Week Award at the Venice Film Festival with his 2007 film The Most Distant Course.

Filmography: The Most Distant Course (2007); The Man Behind the Book (2011); Dear Mother Earth (2011); Elena (2014)